Helped with My SIL’s Wedding—But Was Shocked on the Big Day

I Helped Plan My SIL’s Wedding, Baked the Cake, Paid for the Catering – Then Found Out on the Wedding Day I Wasn’t Invited

Dahlia puts a lot of effort into organizing her brother’s wedding, from creating the invitation to arranging for suppliers to creating the ideal dessert.

However, she learns of a cruel betrayal on the big day: she is not invited. Dahlia must determine whether certain betrayals call for forgiveness or simply a little retaliation as secrets come to light and allegiances are put to the test.

I’ve never been the type to harbor resentment.

Without a doubt, though, I will never be able to forgive Claire for what she did to me.

I was pleased for my brother Liam when he got engaged. It’s true that I didn’t love Claire more than anyone else. She had a way of making every conversation seem like a subliminal contest.

She did, however, appear to love my brother.

What about Liam? He fell in love.

I thus consented to Claire’s request for my assistance in organizing the wedding. Not for her. For Liam, however.

I contributed to the invites’ design. I made vendor reservations. I oversaw the location. Additionally, I covered the cost of the wedding cake and caterers.

I poured my heart and everything into their wedding for weeks. Furthermore, I was unaware of Claire’s covert plans.

Gazing down at the drawings before me, I tapped my pen against the edge of my desk. Pages coated with flour, adorned with beautiful patterns, layers of silky fondant, dripping sugar blossoms, and elaborate piping.

The cake for the wedding has to be flawless.

I frowned as I flipped through the possibilities.

Traditional vanilla? Too dull.

Velvet in red? Claire detested it.

After hovering my pencil over the page, I scrawled down the only option that seemed appropriate.

Peanut butter and chocolate cake.

A tiny smile twitched my lip. Liam liked it best.

I could still see us as children, licking chocolate icing off the beaters while sitting on the kitchen floor with our legs crossed. Every time Liam had a significant occasion, our mother would prepare chocolate-peanut butter cupcakes.

Soccer matches, birthdays, and even the third-grade participation trophy he received. Extra spoonfuls of peanut butter frosting were often taken directly from the bowl by him as he crept into the kitchen.

He would add, “Best flavor in the world,” while licking his fingers.

I leaned back in my chair and sighed. It’s likely that Claire would like something ostentatious and elegant. She spotted an expensive, trendy cake online that had sugared roses or some fancy French method.

However, I wanted Liam to taste something familiar if I was putting my all into this cake.

Something familiar.

I wrote the last flavor selection in ink as I pressed my pen to the page.

I then stretched my fingers and let out a breath. My fingers were still hurting from baking this morning.

A reminder of my progress. A reminder of the price I paid for it.

My dream was to open my own bakery. My whole world. I also believed that my marriage had been for a long.

I took a deep breath and glanced at the pile of unopened letters in the corner of my desk. My ex-husband’s pointless apologies, the last invoices from the divorce attorney, and, of course, a list of all my stocks.

I had cherished my spouse. profoundly. I also believed that he had loved me for a time.

Ultimately, though, he had simply praised my creation. The profitable enterprise. the honor of having a pastry chef for a spouse whose creations were published in magazines.

Not me.

And the day I at last understood that? I was broken by it. And I believed that leaving him was my only option. That or serve as his personal bank.

I closed my eyes tightly and took a big breath.

Dahlia, not right now. This has to do with Liam.

I grabbed up my pen once more and squared my shoulders.

Pay attention.

Liam deserved a flawless wedding cake, no matter what. even if I stopped believing in happy endings.

I stood in the kitchen of the venue on the morning of the wedding, delicately icing the last touches onto the cake.

Laughter poured from the vast hall as guests arrived. Knowing that I had contributed to the coordination of this entire event made my heart sing.

Then, with a thunder-like face, my mother rushed in.

With her hands clutching the kitchen counter, she paused before saying, “Sweetheart…” “You’re not on the guest list.”

I gave a little chuckle.

“What? That is absurd. Their wedding cake is actually in my hands.”

Mom’s expression stayed solemn.

“The guest list is being examined by Claire’s mother. You’re not invited, she says. She also refuses to let you in.

I felt sick to my stomach.

I put down the piping bag as my hands became shaky.

“Did she explain why? “What do you mean?”

Mom’s jaw tightened.

“She refuses to explain.”

I heard a ringing sound in my ears. Claire and I had worked together for months to organize this wedding. months. And she wasn’t even polite enough to tell me?

Mom was furious. She rushed out to find Liam without saying anything else.

What about me?

I cleaned my hands, took off my apron, and left through the side door.

Broken.

Liam was captured by Mom shortly prior to the ceremony. He had no idea what was going on; he was smiling and fiddling with his tie.

“Liam,” she angrily said. “Do you know that Claire didn’t invite your sister?”

Liam stopped. His grin disappeared.

“Hold on. What? “Why?”

“She refuses to say. However, she is ensuring Dahlia is not permitted inside. How can you let that happen? She is your sister.

Liam’s expression grew gloomy. He turned on his heel and marched directly to Claire without hesitating.

Claire was practically beaming in her lace-covered gown as she stood with her bridesmaids, soaking up their praise.

When Liam walked up, she hardly raised her head.

“Claire,” Liam replied in a harsh tone. “Did you seriously not invite my sister?”

Claire rolled her eyes and moaned.

“Oh no, sweetie. “Not right now,” she said. “Can we not do this on our wedding day?”

Liam remained still.

“Answer me.”

She sighed, obviously irritated.

“See, she came to our aid. What the heck? She gave us that as a gift. Furthermore, let’s be honest—it’s also her job.”

Liam gazed at her incredulously.

Claire, she covered the cost of the meal. She baked the cake for days! And you simply… what? acted as though she didn’t exist?”

Claire sighed dramatically.

“All right. Do you want to know why? Divorced persons were not welcome at our wedding, in my opinion. Particularly for the bride, it’s negative energy! That kind of luck in our marriage is not what I desire! I didn’t invite many of my cousins and acquaintances.

Liam tightened his jaw.

“So you excluded my sister because she got a divorce?”

Claire gave a shrug.

“Come on, I mean. She couldn’t make it work, and I’m not to blame. Why ruin our day with that kind of vibe? And don’t be upset with me for merely attempting to maintain my happiness. Liam, I’m superstitious! How are you unaware of this?

Anger made Liam’s whole body stiff, and he clenched his fists at his sides.

“Marriages do not end due to ‘poor vibes,’ Claire said. They fail because they act cruelly and selfishly. such as this!”

Claire’s arrogant look wavered.

“Don’t be theatrical, Liam. Are you really making a big deal out of this? I’m glad I even allowed her to assist you. I was kind to her.

A long, icy period passed while Liam gazed at her.

“You know what? You are correct,” he stated coolly. “I don’t want bad energy at my wedding either.”

Claire scowled.

She said, “Oh, so you understand what I mean?”

“No, I don’t,” he replied. “I’m actually finished. Just finished totally.”

Liam had stopped listening. He pivoted and proceeded directly to the catering table.

As Liam reached for the cake, the room erupted in gasps, but nobody dared to stop him.

When the doorbell rang, I was already at home, curled up in startled quiet on the couch.

When I opened it, I saw Liam standing there with the wedding cake in his suit. We were silent for a moment. There was a mixture of fatigue and something heavier on his face.

With a harsh voice, he said, “I’m sorry you wasted your time and money on that wedding,” “I’ll force her to reimburse you. However, it goes beyond that.

My brother shook his head and let out a breath.

“I’m grateful. Because I might not have recognized Claire for who she truly is if it weren’t for you.”

My throat constricted.

My big brother had always been Liam. The person who protected me. And he picked me today, when it counted most.

He entered when I moved aside and placed the cake on my coffee table.

We just stared at it for a while.

Then Liam laughed, gasping for air.

“You know, I haven’t eaten all day.”

I picked up two forks.

“Then let’s fix that.”

Like a couple of sugar-starved children, we sat on the floor, still dressed in formal attire, and immediately began eating the wedding cake.

Liam froze after taking one bite. With a delicate, nearly broken sound departing his throat, his eyes shifted to mine.

He whispered, “Chocolate-peanut butter,”

“Yeah,” I said, swallowing hard.

He shook his head and gazed at his fork.

He remarked, “You made this for me,”

There was no question. Just a silent insight.

“Of course, I did, Liam.”

Liam gently nodded, pressing his lips together. Chewing cautiously, as if tasting something other than cake, he took another mouthful. As if he was recalling home.

He cleared his throat after a few moment.

“You know… if this was the wedding cake, I guess that means I got the best part of today.”

I blinked. He let out a breath.

“I left a person who didn’t respect me behind. from what would have been an unhappy future.

His voice was calm but certain as he gazed at me.

“But I still have you.”

“Always,” I said softly.

A gentle knock on the door interrupted me as I was in my office, tracing the edge of a new cake design with my fingers.

I briefly believed I was dreaming.

Then it happened once more. tentative. hesitant.

Already exhausted, I let out a sigh.

I yelled, “Come in,”

She was there when the door creaked open.

Claire.

She had a… new appearance. Not well-polished. Not arrogant. Simply pale, apprehensive, and burdened with the sort of melancholy that hung over her shoulders.

I didn’t get up. I refused to give her a seat.

I simply waited while folding my arms.

“Hey.”

“You lost?” I arched an eyebrow.

As if she earned it, she winced but nodded.

“No. I wanted to see you, I thought.

I cocked my head to observe her.

“I can’t imagine why.”

Claire looked down at her hands and swallowed.

“Liam refuses to speak to me. He’s not going to see me.” For a brief moment, I could see sincere remorse in her eyes as her voice caught.

However, I was unmoved.

She inhaled and tried once more.

“I made a mistake. “I.” She gave a quick exhale. “Dahlia, I was terrible to you. I was harsh and self-centered, and I…”

She intertwined her fingers.

“I never meant for things to go this way.”

Short and without humor, I laughed.

“Really? because it seemed deliberate.

Claire flinched.

She hesitated, then said, “I thought…” “I believed I had complete control. that I would have my ideal day if I just worked hard enough. And in its place? Everything was damaged by me.